Purchase recommendation used 4wd Prado vs Patrol

Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 21:10

ThreadID: 106800 Views:4811 Replies:12 FollowUps:8

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PGU

Hey community,
I am currently looking to buy a used 4wd. I have narrowed it down to two vehicles and now I would love some second opinions on which one to take.

I am planning to drive once around Australia within one year, mostly living in and around the vehicle. Of course I will visit the classic tourist destinations, but I also like to travel into National Parks and go hiking and exploring. I have no real 4wd experience, but during my stay in Australia (I am from overseas) I would definately try some light/easy tracks. But in the end it will probably be 70% sealed roads, 25% dirt roads and 5% tracks.

Both come with RWC and I will put them into a pre-purchase inspection just to make sure.

---Option A---
2007 Toyota Landcruiser Prado KDJ120R GXL
110.000km
6 speed Manual
Extras: ARB Bullbar, OME 2" ´lift suspension, Safari Snorkel, ARB Roof rack, Light force lights, Maxxis mud tyres plus small tow bar, electric brakes and bonnet protector
Negotiated price: 31.000$

---Option B---
2007 Nissan Patrol GU4 DX
80.000km
4 speed Automatic
Extras: Nissan Kit with Bullbar incl rail, side steps, Tigerz electric winch with rope and a Nissan snorkel, full Tigerz Roof rack with Foxwing Awning, Roof console, Narva HID lights and light bars, OME 2" lift suspension, cooper A/T tyres plus small tow bar
> No "grenade" problems according to owner and also no kit fitted against it
Negotiated price: 27.000$

The Nissan comes with more extras (around 3.000$ more I guess) and low kilometers for its age, but it seems to me that it is a bit overpriced. The price isn't really the issue, but the reselling value would be. I would want to loose as little money as possible when I sell it again in one year.

Does anyone have a opinion/recommendation?

Thank you

PG

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Reply By: Oldbrowny - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 21:46

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 21:46

I've owned both and for what you have described I would recommend the Prado. It will do everything you need and be a hell of a lot more comfortable. Resale will always be better on the Prado too.

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Follow Up By: Member - Tony H (touring oz) - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 21:50

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 21:50

Ditto to your comments.

Insanity doesnt run in my family.... it gallops!

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Reply By: The Bantam - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 21:52

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 21:52

you realy are looking at two very different vehicles.

The prado is a light waggon.....at the risk of offending some... a hilux station waggon....and in general a pretty good thing...but a light vehicle all the same and a little short on ground clearance.

The patroll...well it was one of the strongest and mst capable 4wds on the australian market ...TILL they went away from the six cylinder diesel......well it was all down hill from there..and its not just the motor....and it automatic.

If it was my money...the prado..no question.

cheers

AnswerID: 528704

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 22:18

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 22:18

You'll have no problem selling a Prado in 12 months. Selling the 3 litre patrol might be a problem.

The one you're looking at looks like its done a bit of offroading - it's not often that people put muddies on a Prado. I'd also want to know what it has been towing, especially because it's a manual. And the 2007 is within the window that the common rail motors had injector problems - worth asking about.

AnswerID: 528706

Follow Up By: Member - Rowdy6032 (WA) - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 22:52

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 22:52

Hi

As Phil has said above, get the injectors checked on the Prado.

That model is prone to injector problems and you will be looking at approx. $4500 to have them replaced if there is a problem.

I have the same model (manual), about the same mileage and while I am more than happy with it the cost to have the injectors replaced was a bit of a bummer.

Regards
Rowdy

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Follow Up By: PGU - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 23:04

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 23:04

Is checking the injectors something that would be easy to do on a pre-purchase inspection?

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Follow Up By: Member - Rowdy6032 (WA) - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 23:22

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 23:22

I can only tell you what they did with mine. Probably best done by a diesel specialist.

Checked the injectors while hot, kept it overnight and checked them in the morning while cold. This gave them the information they needed.

Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge may be able to explain it a bit better.

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Follow Up By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 06:38

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 06:38

These people have a lot of good information on common rail injectors and no where near the $4k price that Toyota charge. Cheers, Bob
http://www.baileysdiesel.com/on-highway/

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Follow Up By: Member - Rowdy6032 (WA) - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 13:08

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 13:08

There is a bit more to it than just replacing the injectors.

If the injectors are faulty carbon will get into the oil and get picked up by the oil screen near the sump. It is my understanding that it is the screen getting blocked by the carbon that causes major engine failure. If this is the case the screen will have to be removed and either replaced or cleaned. Your oil and filters will also have to be changed.

Pradopoint has 40+ pages detailing this issue.

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 18:59

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 18:59

I wasn't going to mention it before because it wasn't in the original question, , but if I were looking at a 6+ year old Prado, I'd be looking at the V6 Petrol.
Reasons being they are stacks cheaper to buy, are less likely to have been used offroad or for towing, are very reliable, usually have fewer k's on the clock, and the running cost is not much different to the diesel (91 octane petrol is often cheaper than diesel; cheaper servicing on the petrol vehicle, and none of the "contaminated diesel" problems.
180litre tanks take you a long way @ 13.2 l/100k on the V6.

Main downside is that they are harder to sell than the diesel models (all comes down to price) but I expect would still be easier to sell than a 3 litre Patrol.

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Reply By: Member - ironJosh - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 23:12

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2014 at 23:12

Hi PGU, I would without a doubt go the Prado. Very under-rated 4WD. They are tough.

Extra's- a few great ARB accessories or a lot of crap ones...

Get a 2nd fuel filter put in after the factory filter and you will be good! The reason to put it in after, is that if it has a fuel filter warning light fitted, often its too late. So when you see the light come on, switch the vehicle off straight away. 99 times out of 100 it won't make it past the 2nd one.

Josh

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Reply By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 14:18

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 14:18

A Prado has a lot going for it PG but I could never reccomend one.

Main issue is that they have a 42 degree rollover angle (one of the lowest for a 4wd wagon), whereas the Patrol is one of the best at 48 degrees.

Rollover is the main way people suffer serious injuries out there usually on faster dirt roads as a result of a swerve.

It isn't a linear relationship either and those figures represent both a significant difference and also one that you won't find advertised on the brouchers.

Grenading is still an issue but dimished, but I'd rather grenade than rollover.

Robin Miller

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Follow Up By: The Explorer - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 16:03

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 16:03

Using same philosophy ..keep in mind its safer (i.e. less likely to result in serious injury) to have an accident (all types combined) in a Prado than in a Patrol so think Id prefer to live in a rollover than die in one.

Cheers
Greg

I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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Reply By: Member - Michael A (ACT) - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 14:55

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 14:55

Patrol is diesel i assuming and is the Prado a diesel.
Now whatever Bantam said about a prado being a light vehicle go over to the Prado point web site and read about Prados and their associated points. Good and Bad.
I have owned a 120 series for 8 years for a light vehicle with low clearance it has done the CAPE, simpson deset, Cahnnel county NSW alps and Vic high country, without any issues, Also It has been reliable and quiet vehicle with no real issues. I have done these treck in all weather situations from -10 to 50 C.
The only thing is I regularly got it serviced and am meticulous in maintenance.
My wife loves the truck as we call it.

Regards

Michael

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Reply By: Michaeljp - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 15:56

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 15:56

If your looking for a ready set up vehicle to travel Australia, the Patrol is the the go with the accessories you've mentioned. Cheaper price, and lower km's .HID lights and light bars are a must in Australia if your traveling at night. If there are 2 of you, you will have more storage in the patrol. 2007 are not in the grenade category, so don't worry about that. Have said all that, you will get slightly better fuel economy in the Prado and better fuel capacity. 180lit in Prado. But there are fuel stops at least every 500-600km.
Ive been a Toyota owner and driver for over 32 years and i just bought a 2012 Patrol last year. Toyota are over priced and their legendary reliability has dropped somewhat in recent years, they are relying on their reputation and advertising campaigns to keep them in front of the competition.

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Reply By: Steve M1 (NSW) - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 20:16

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 20:16

40+ pages on Pradopoint is largely due to several posters with an agenda to while away their precious time. The Prado is reliable as they come- just not perfect. Better than a Patrol in that regard.

Clearance issues? Nonsense. Maybe out of the showroom. Prados are capable of 95% of anything the best of them can do esp with a lift. Look at the forums: Pradopoint or 4wd Action.

For serious offroad stuff, the Patrol has a better limited slip diff that works -the Prado's is not brilliant but lockers (expensive $24000) would fix this if you really need it... but this is being picky and only an issue if you do hardcore. You probably won't need the toys but if you are going to do 5% tracks, it only takes a 1% chance of getting bogged without experience and a winch isn't much use if you don't know how to use it - join a 4wd club (approx. $150 and attend a training day - great fun too) and you will learn far more.

Patrol is great and strictly speaking a better 4x4 but the Prado is a better all-rounder with better resale.

you honestly wouldn't go too far wrong with either. (disclaimer)

;)

AnswerID: 528747

Reply By: Mark T6 - Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 22:15

Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 at 22:15

I have a Prado (albeit a 2010 and 150 model).

VERY underrated fourby.

My only mods are a 2 inch lift, Bilstein Shockies, King Springs and Poly Airbags.

And I have been on some pretty major expeditions, Cape, CSR, Simmo, all the tracks, Fraser etc etc

NEVER been stuck once, very agile and great four wheel drive.....actually pulled out of a rocky creek crossing a V8 Troopy with lots of kit, guy wouldn't let me run my Go Pro to prove it said he would be embarrassed for life.

I am sure the Patrol would be good as well, but have to vote for the Prado as an owner, and yes ANYTHING (and I do mean anything) you need to know can be found on www.pradopoint.com.......you never know you might even find me!!

AnswerID: 528755

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Friday, Mar 21, 2014 at 11:52

Friday, Mar 21, 2014 at 11:52

$4,000.oo price difference buys a lot of fuel , ,, either vehicle will do the job you have intended for it , The Playdoh has obviously been used for towing [why else the electric brake controller ] The Nissan with lower milage would be my pick [Auto box ] , resale will not become a serious problem as you add the same milage to both vehicles the Nissan will still be 'low milage' compared to the Playdoh ……..

No bias ,, I drive a FJ Cruiser [ Prado with a retro body ]

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Reply By: Member Ray M (QLD) - Friday, Mar 21, 2014 at 12:17

Friday, Mar 21, 2014 at 12:17

Hey PG, there is a nice looking Pajero here in the classifieds. Cheers Ray

AnswerID: 528788

Reply By: PGU - Friday, Mar 21, 2014 at 13:46

Friday, Mar 21, 2014 at 13:46

Unfortunately the Prado fell through - inspection showed that it had some injector troubles.

Many thanks to 4wd Guest in Melbourne for a good inspection job.

Guess I will go out and look around again...

AnswerID: 528793